Thirds to george ticehurst and george d



(No Model.)

J. H. BALDWIN. Rein Holder.

No. 240,943. Patented May 3,1881.

N. PETERS, FHOTGLITHOGRAFH E NlTE STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. BALDIVIN, OF PORT JEFFERSON, YORK, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO GEORGE TIOEHURST AND GEORGE D. LEE, OF SAME PLACE.

RElN-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,943, dated May 3, 1881.

Application filed March 19, 1881; (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. BALDWIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Port Jefferson, Suffolk county, New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rein- Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rein-holders, and has for its object economy and simplicity of construction, ready adjnstability, and positiveness of action; and with these ends in view my invention consists of a rein-holder formed with a hollow or slotted shank provided with a reciprocating tightening-wedge, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

My invention further consists in forming the bulb or ball and shank in separate pieces and securing the same together by screws, as will be presently explained.

My invention further consists in securing the leather or other covering of the bulb or ball in place by the shank-plate, as will be hereinafter set forth.

In order that those skilled. may know how to make and use my improved rein-holder, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of one ofmy improt ed rein-holders applied to a rein. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section at the line or m, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 a perspective view of the sliding wedge.

Similar letters denote like parts in the several figures.

A is a portion of an ordinary leather rein; and B my improved holder, composed of wood or other block 0, rounded on one side and fiat on the other, and provided with a central slot, D, for the passage of the rein A. The leather or buckskin covering Eis stretched over the block 0, and the outer edge or circumference turned over the back edge into a slight groove or recess in the outer edge of the flat surface, where it is firmly clasped or held in place by a metallic plate, F, which is secured in position by two or more screws, G. The covering may also be slit and stretched through the slot 50 or opein g D, and secured in a similar manner,

though this is not necessary, as a simple central opening in the cover may be all that is necessary, or the covering may be entirely dispensed with. The plate G has formed therewith or connected thereto a rearwardly-pro- 5 jecting shank, H, with a central rectangular channel for the passage of the rein and a 1011- gitudinal slot, 1, for a set-screw,J, which, passing through the slot I, enters a sliding wedge or block, K, increasingin thickness rearward] y, and preferably having its under or contact portion roughened, as shown at Fig. 3.

The plate F and its shank are secured to the block 0 by screws, as before stated, and may or may not be provided with dowels or teats, to assist in holding the block and plate in proper axial relation.

The central rein opening or slot and wedge K are of such proportions that the rein can slip freely through the slot when the wedge-shaped piece K is drawn out, but will be firmlybonnd within the slot when the wedge is forced inwardly. The necessary longitudinal movement of the wedge is permitted by the screw J and slot I. 7 5

When the holder has become securely connected to the rein by pulling upon the same and it is desired to release it for removal or adjustment,the wedge is forced or pulled rearward by grasping the shank above the screwhead, or it may be loosened by pulling the holdfast in an opposite direction, whenit may he slipped along over the rein by holding the wedge outward from the shank.

The wedge shape of the sliding block K and 8 5 its relations to the opening in the shank are such that any strain or pull upon the holdfast will cause the rein to be instantly griped or clasped between the wedge and one side of the rein-slot in the shank, which bite grows se- 0 verer by continued strain.

While I have shown the block 0 and shank as made of two parts and a covering secured in place in the manner described, it is obvious that the entire device may be made of one 5 piece and the wedge secured in position in the manner already described, and, as before stated, the covering may be entirely dispensed with, though I prefer to use it and have shown means for securing it in place.

What 1 claim as new, and desire to secure cured in place by the plate F, substantially as 10 by Letters Patent, is-- shown and described.

1. A rein-holder composed of a grasping- In testimony whereot'lhave hereunto set my bulb, G, and rearwardly-extended shank H, hand in the presence of two subscribing wit- 5 the bulb and shank formed with a central reinl messes.

slot, in combination with a longitudinally- JOHN H. BALDWIN. movable wedge-block, K, substantially as and Witnesses: for the. purpose set forth. WILLIAM T. HULSE,

2. The bulbcovering E, stretched and se- J. M. BROWN. 

